EAST COAST NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1051, 19 November 1903, Page 3

EAST COAST NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Tokomaru Bay, Tuesday. A pretty wedding, and one ot much interest to a largo circle of friends, was solemnised on Tnureday last at the Native Church, tlio contracting couple being Miss Agnes Jamieson, of Christchurch, and sister to Mr Jamieson, manager of tho Tokomaru Hotel, and Mr A. T. Smith. The Bov. Oiho Eitzgoraid officiated. The bride was giveu away by her brother, and looked charming in a handsomo travelling dress of electric blue cloth, trimmed with coffee-colored iace and insertion, and hat to match, trimmed with pink poppies and chiffon, and she carried a beautiful bouquet. The only bridesmaid was Miss M. Mane, of Ormond, who wore a pretty white muslin dress, finished with Jace and pale blue ribbon, and hat to correspond; and she also carried a lovely bouquet. Mr J. M. Earle acted a 3 best man.

Tho church was tastefully decorated by Misses White, Williams, and McGavin, and reflected great credit on them. It being tho first European wedding celobrated here, tho church was packed, sovoral being unable to gain admission. Tho choir, under Mrs McGavin, sang the wedding hymn “How Welcome was the Call," and at tho conclusion of the coroinouy Mrs Fairiie, in her usual talented style, playod Mendolssohn’s “ Wedding March.”

After the ceremony Mrs Shepheard, sister of the bride, entertained a largo party of guests at a wedding breakfast, when the toasts of tho newly married couple Were duly honored. A largo and variod collection of wedding presents wore received. After partaking of the wedding broakfast the happy couple loft for Te Puia Hot Springs, whoro the honeymoon will bo spent. In the ovening a party was given, and was greatly enjoyed by all present, singing and dancing being kept up till 2 o’clock next morning. Mr G. Kelly, of Tokomaru, recently imported 10 buggies for tho Coast. They woro brought to Gisborne and are being unpacked prior to being taken up tho Coast. It augurs well for the improved conditions of tho Waiapu County roads when there is such a good demand for buggies. The Government of to day, as well as the Governments of tho past, may have made mistakes in their dealings with the Maori. It may bo that even now, as Mr Fraser asserts, the Government are paying loss for Maori lands than tho Native sellers could obtain from Europeans if freetrado in Native land wero permitted, liut even in that case nobody will suppose thut tho Government are buying Maori laud cheaply, to add it to the stock of land available for profitable settlement, for personal profit or aggrandisement. In any event tho land purchased becomes tho property of the community. Of course we do not take the sordid view that the Maori should be exploited for the national bene fi ‘ • '

but the fact that it is the nation dealing with the Maori in the instances given by Mr Fraser must be kept in mind, and the whole subject regarded from that standpoint.